About 3000 tons of beans are not used in human food due to hardening. Several studies on bean-derived bioactive peptides have shown potential to treat some diseases, including those relying on oxidative dysfunctions. We assessed the effects of peptides extracted from hardened bean Phaseolus vulgaris (PV) on reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) production, cytotoxic and cytoprotective effects in endothelial cells, and oxidonitrergic-dependent vasodilating effects. Extract was composed by peptide fraction <3 kDa (PV3) from hardened common bean residue. PV3 sequences were obtained and analyzed with bioinformatics. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were treated with 10, 20, 30, and 250 µg/mL PV3. Oxidative stress was provoked by 3% H 2 O 2 . Cytotoxicity and cytoprotective effects were evaluated by MTT assay, whereas, ROS and NO were quantified using DHE and DAF-FM fluorescent probes by confocal microscopy. NO- and endothelium-dependent vasodilating effects of PV3 were assessed in isolated aortic rings. We found 35 peptides with an average mass of 1.14 kDa. There were no cell deaths with 10 and 20 μg/mL PV3. PV3 at 30 μg/mL increased cell viability, while cytotoxicity was observed only with 250 μg/mL PV3. PV3 at 10 μg/mL was able to protect cells from oxidative stress. PV3 also increased NO release without causing cell death. It also reduced relative ROS production induced by H 2 O 2 . PV3 vasodilating effects relied on endothelium-dependent NO release. PV3 obtained from low-commercial-value bean displays little cytotoxicity and exerts antioxidant effects, whereas it increases endothelial NO release.

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A leishmaniose tegumentar americana é um grave problema de saúde pública em vários países do mundo. O presente trabalho visou realizar o levantamento descritivo das características epidemiológicas da doença no estado de Goiás entre os anos de 2007 e 2009. Este trabalho consistiu em uma pesquisa retrospectiva descritiva com base nos dados notificados e cadastrados no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN). O estudo mostrou a distribuição dos casos autóctones por município, evidenciando a expansão da doença no estado. Assim, foram notificados 1.285 casos confirmados de leishmaniose tegumentar americana, dos quais 848 eram autóctones em 130 municípios. Em 2007, foram notificados 233 casos autóctones em 75 municípios; em 2008, 276 casos em 81 municípios e, em 2009, 349 casos em 85 municípios. Estes dados sugerem uma leve tendência de aumento de casos e uma ampla distribuição geográfica. Houve predominância de casos que envolviam indivíduos habitantes da área urbana, do sexo masculino, de raça parda e escolaridade inferior ao ensino médio. O resultado da pesquisa sugere a necessidade de uma investigação mais profunda das causas dessas infecções, o que demonstra a importância deste estudo, uma vez que oferece dados que podem subsidiar programas voltados à informação e profilaxia deste tipo de infecção.

The heptapeptide Bj-PRO-7a, isolated and identified from Bothrops jararaca (Bj) venom, produces antihypertensive and other cardiovascular effects that are independent on angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition, possibly relying on cholinergic muscarinic receptors subtype 1 (M1R). However, whether Bj-PRO-7a acts upon the central nervous system and modifies behavior is yet to be determined. Therefore, the aims of this study were: i) to assess the effects of acute administration of Bj-PRO-7a upon behavior; ii) to reveal mechanisms involved in the effects of Bj-PRO-7a upon locomotion/exploration, anxiety, and depression-like behaviors. For this purpose, adult male Wistar (WT, wild type) and spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR) received intraperitoneal injections of vehicle (0.9% NaCl), diazepam (2 mg/kg), imipramine (15 mg/kg), Bj-PRO-7a (71, 213 or 426 nmol/kg), pirenzepine (852 nmol/kg), α-methyl-DL-tyrosine (200 mg/kg), or chlorpromazine (2 mg/kg), and underwent elevated plus maze, open field, and forced swimming tests. The heptapeptide promoted anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects and increased locomotion/exploration. These effects of Bj-PRO-7a seem to be dependent on M1R activation and dopaminergic receptors and rely on catecholaminergic pathways.

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